Northwestern Washington & the San Juan Islands - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 191

You might feel you have wandered unwittingly into the North Cascades. Belling-
ham's eastern suburbs are bisected by a wild region that stretches from Lake Whatcom
down to Bellingham Bay. The change in elevation is marked by four sets of waterfalls,
including Whirlpool Falls , a popular summer swimming hole. There are numerous trails
in the park as well as picnic tables and recreational facilities.
THE GREAT SKI TO SEA RACE
If one event sums up the essence of modern Bellingham it's the annual Ski to Sea
Race ( www.skitosea.com ) , held in late May. This seven-leg team relay from the top of
Mt Baker 93.5 miles down to Fairhaven Marine Park on Puget Sound enshrines the
eccentric combination of magic and madness that make this great city tick. The
seven relay disciplines are cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, running, cycling,
canoeing, mountain biking and kayaking, and around 4000 participants give it
their all. Anyone not racing is supporting the competitors with cheers at the finish
line. This event has consumed the town since 1911.
And the race isn't just a time for getting down that hill. Before the competition
there's a massive block party on Railroad Ave with live music, plenty of adult bever-
ages and food. There's also a kids parade and junior ski to sea a few days before
the race and a 'Grande' parade through town the day before. If you're in town at
this time, prepare yourself to party (and book far in advance if you need a hotel
room).
Activities
Wedged precariously between mountains and sea, Bellingham offers outdoor activities
by the truckload. Lakes Whatcom, Samish and Padden, all within a few minutes of town,
make for great picnicking and boating, while walkers and hikers can trace the well-paved
trail through Fairhaven to Larrabee State Park.
Climbing
Bellingham is a mini Kathmandu for the ever-active Northwest climbing community and
home to the highly regarded American Alpine Institute ( www.aai.cc ; 1515 12th St) , which
organizes everything from Everest ascents to guided trips up Mt Baker and a slew of oth-
er North Cascade peaks.
Cruises